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Where to watch the 2016 Olympics in Austin

Photo by Amira Jensen. La Condesa is offering caipirinhas on special for $6 during Olympics soccer games.

These local bars and restaurants — some that regularly show sports, some that don’t — are going above and beyond to make sure your experience watching the Olympics this month is as thrilling as all the sporting events on the TV (or at least worthy of stepping outside the comforts of your home to view).

It’s not a comprehensive list; we’ll update as we spot more places getting in on the Olympics action.

The Park

4024 S. Lamar Blvd., 11601 Domain Dr. #200

Starting tomorrow through Aug. 21, the last day of the games, the sports bar is offering Brazilian-inspired food and drink specials to go along with its abundance of TVs. Those specials include the caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail that comes with cachaça, lime and sugar, for $8 or $5 during happy hour. Pair the drink with Brazilian flat iron steak for $20 and you’ve got a full-on Brazilian-style dinner. Five percent of the Park’s total sales from these Olympic specials go toward Habitat for Humanity Brazil.

La Condesa

400 W. Second St.

This upscale Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown is putting the caipirinha back on special (just as it did two years ago during the World Cup, also in Brazil). Both a standard version and a frozen one will be half-price, $6, at the bar and bar patio during all Olympics soccer games, which will be aired on the screens in the restaurant.

Haymaker

2310 Manor Rd.

This mecca for good beer and comfort food wants to keep you coming back for all your Olympics fun. And Haymaker is making a strong argument for it, too, by offering an Olympics punch card that you can get punched for up to three times per day, in the hopes of winning Haymaker’s equivalent of a gold, silver or bronze medal. (You can get it punched simply by watching a game.) The restaurant is also throwing its Olympic-themed anniversary party on Aug. 20 with the chance to win more prizes by playing bar games like pool and darts.

Photo by Emma Janzen. Hi Hat is one of the best places in town to get a craft beer, which you can enjoy while watching the Olympics.

Hi Hat Public House

2121 E. Sixth St.

For a quieter experience watching the games, the cozy Hi Hat Public House, a beer bar, is a good bet. Hi Hat will have the Olympics playing throughout the duration of the event, so pair your cheering on of the U.S. team with the latest Austin Beerworks brew and Hi Hat’s decadent mac ‘n’ cheese.

Central Standard

1603 S. Congress Ave.

The trendy restaurant inside the South Congress Hotel will have a Brazilian menu, in collaboration with authentic Brazilian street food truck Boteco, for one more day this week. Stop in for dinner tonight to try a variety of Brazilian favorites, either by ordering the full tasting menu with a friend, or a la carte if you’re by yourself. Central Standard will also be a place to watch the Olympics this month.

Black Sheep Lodge

2108 S. Lamar Blvd.

Looking for a place to watch the Olympics opening ceremony? This casual beer bar will have $1 Jell-O shots, $2 Miller Lite pints and $8 Miller Lite pitchers, as well as a a Rio Rumchata cocktail, to go along with the usual Friday specials. Black Sheep Lodge will also be a constant site of Olympics enthusiasts.

Russian House of Austin

307 E. Fifth St.

Although this downtown restaurant is sure to immerse you in Russian culture on most nights — including through its many vodka infusions — the Olympics is transforming it for one night into a Brazilian spot. The Russian House’s Samba event on Friday, in honor of the Olympics opening ceremony, will have samba classes and performances, as well as live music by the Latin Dukes. The party will also have caipiroskas, a twist on the caipirinha because it’s made with vodka instead of the usual cachaça.

The Warehouse District bar and restaurant has been posting about the Olympics on Facebook, so needless to say, it’s a good place to go for like-minded fans — especially if you avidly watched the World Cup and love soccer. Fado has whiskey-focused cocktails like the Manhattan and the Whiskey Sour, but it’s hard to deny that a beer will always pair well with Olympics watch parties.

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About the Author

Arianna Auber writes in-depth news about beer, cocktails and spirits for Liquid Austin and keeps readers in the know about fun local events with the Planner. She lives in East Austin with three roommates, a dog, and a fridge and pantry full of craft beer.